Time Trial / Time Trialling / TT

A Statement

My background

I am a 2nd-year junior rider from central London. I have been involved in high-level sport since 14. In 2013 I won the London Youth Games Cycling TT and in 2014 I had some road race results as well as winning the National Junior 25 TT, and got a place with a semi-professional British team for the 2015 season.

What happened

On 3 August 2015 I bought EPO for the first time. On 11 August 2015 I travelled to the south of France for a weeks training camp with the family of a then-teammate. With me I brought one vial of EPO. Early into the trip the father of the teammate found the vial and set up a camera to monitor it. At the end of the trip he confronted me and I owned up. I stopped using the drugs at this point. The father presented evidence to UK Anti-Doping, consisting of video footage of me using the drugs, audio recordings of conversations between him and myself, and the empty vial of EPO that he had removed from my suitcase. UKAD contacted me shortly after to arrange a deposition, in which I promptly admitted to all wrongdoing.

In early August I voluntarily withdrew from the upcoming Junior Tour of Wales (the premier event of the junior calendar). I have competed only one time since buying the drugs; on 5 September 2015 I raced the National Junior 10m TT, in which I finished 1st. I competed because at the time I didn’t believe myself to still be under the influence of the EPO as I thought enough time would have passed, but I have now forfeited this title. I realise now that competing was (another) huge mistake but at the time my intent was not malicious.

Going forward

First of all I would like to say that I am extremely sorry to those who have supported me thus far, especially to those individuals and clubs who have been an endless resource over my intense, albeit short, journey

I would also particularly like to apologise to the competitors and organisers of the 2015 Junior National 10 TT, especially to those three riders who were cheated out of medals.

Finally: if there is anybody reading this who is considering using PEDs, know that my choice has turned out to be immensely destructive and has seriously affected my personal life for the past four months (and, I’m sure, will continue to do so). When each week yields news of another positive test it can be easy to work yourself into a mentality whereby doping can be normalised and justified. In reality it strips all enjoyment out of riding. It is immensely damaging not only to your sporting career but also your personal life and it is also very, very dangerous. There is nothing that I would not give to be able to turn back the clock to August 2015 and have that choice again.

I am doing the best I can to put this right by being as honest and contrite as possible. I plan to continue to train hard for the duration of my ban and return to racing once it expires.

Gabriel Evans